Lasting Effects

Today, with a trained eye, the effects of Henry Barnes on Baltimore can be seen. A good example would be the move of the Johns Hopkins monument from in the middle of the roadway at N Charles Street & E 34th Street seen below in first picture to the current location in the second picture, Charles Street & 33rd Street.

Source:(First Photo-LIFE) (Second Photo-Google Maps)

Lot of older traffic equipment still exists and is still in use. An historian could see this as a time capsule, maybe to study of what was. Much of the transportation infustructure build up during the 1950's is left in disrepair but still in use. Take for example the intersection of Waterview Ave and Annapolis Road, the span-wire holding signals up had to be supported by a nearby wooden electric/phone poll but originally it had its own independent poll. A view of today is in the photo below.

.Source:Google Maps

Another relevant photo below is of Annapolis Road and South Monroe Street. An assembly for the 1950's still exists know as a "double guy" because of two signals place close together on a suspended pole.

.Source:Google Maps

It is interesting to see these intersections stand the test of time. Maybe it is a testament on how well planned the traffic system of Baltimore was or it could be the state of affairs of the city financially. As the tax base fled from Baltimore in the 1960's, funding for all projects including transportation went down. One of my associates, Ryan McLearen, said it was so bad in the 1990's that the traffic division reused electrical wire and taped them together to get an intersection working.